The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-03-09

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"Simply because am something of an
expert in these Matters" replied, "and
am convinced that the same hand wrote
the name affixed to 1t and these other
names (of the same person. which appear
in this letter. Truly, Ichabod, Selina's
letters to you could have compromised her
in more ways than one! Her criminality
equals her perfdy!"
That evening, after turning the matter
over in my mind, / wrote long letter to
Ichabod's father. briefly summing up the
details that had been given me, and boldly
offering my deductions as to the author of
the poor young mans wrongs and misfor-
tunes. Indeed. my zeal carried me so far
that mailed this forthwith, without con-
sulting Ichabod.
l did not speak OF it, indeed, till the Sec
ond day following, when L was able to
show him his fathers letter in reply.
The letter was brief and business like,
but not without an undercurrent of deep
feeling. Its concluding sentence was as
follows:
"My wife and / start eastward by to-
nights express, and will take the liberty of
meeting my son ut your place early the
next morning, when, if he dares to con-
front my wife Gas she AYERS he will not do,
and shows me the papers substantiating
the charges you have presented, l will en-
gage to avenge his wrongs, and make
amends for his sufferings by every means
in my power"
Ichabod received this intelligence at first
with much excitement, but soon settled
into an apathetic condition that | could not
understand.
Perhaps was hasty in acting without
consulting you, said l.
"Oh, no, sir" said he. "It's all one in
the end. You are very kind"
The next morning, soon after breakfast,
Mr.. Flotsam, accompanied by his new wife,
arrived from c.. He was florid,
hard-faced old map, on perhaps the shady
side of sixty, whose personal resemblance
TO his son was not striking, though per-
ceptibie. He handed his wife out of the
hack with much politeness, though it was
evident that GOODNESS had already come
between them; while the woman's comedy
face wore look of anxiety which not even
her effrontery, which was considerable,
could wholly conceal. She greeted my wife
and daughter with cordially that was
not returned, and said, lightly: ITO think
of all this fuss about those foolish letters
of mine that l was SO anxious to burn,
ma'amp
"You didn't say you wanted the N for that
purpose, or you wouldn't have got them"
said my wife, tartly. However, will you
not have breakfast"
Certainly not, though many thanks to
you, ma'am," interposed Mr.. Flosam, with
a stern glance at his wife. will you con-
duct us to Ichabod, sir?" he added, turning
to me.
We al set out together across the grounds,
but were intercepted by the coachman with
the startling intelligence that Ichabod had
unaccountabiy disappeared. The man had
helped him to dress an hour before, and
had left him sitting at the window, looking
moodily out over the water, but had shortly
afterward returned to find the room empty
Ichabod had put on his hat and shoes and
wandered out. The coachman and gar
dener had since been looking for him
without avail.
why, the poor fellow was hardly able to
stand alonel" / cried, pushing forward, fol-
lowed by the rest.
We stood irresolute for a moment in the
tenantless room, when Mrs. Flotsam turn
ing triumphantly to her husband, exclaimed
with indecent exultation: There, Benja-
min! did not tell you the worthless fellow
would not dare to face me with his absurd
charges?
My wife gave her look, Gerry drew
back from her with open contempt, while
and looked out upon the crisp, autumnal
morning.
There is a man down there by the river
making signs to us" said he at last.
1t was the gardener reckoning us to go
to him. We lost no time in obeying, Tom,
the coachman, hurrying on before.
I'm afraid there's no good of looking
any further for Ichabed, sir-leastv Use not
above water" said one of the men, as he
came up; and he exhibited Ichabods hat
and coat which he had just found at the
rivers edge, while also pointing to some
tracks in the sand, as of some one who had
deliberately walked out into the depths.
A dead silence ensued, for there was
room for but one inference.
Then Gerry began to cry, and Mr.. Flot-
sam turned his face toward the rocks, as
though TO master some unusual agitation.
When he seemed to have somewhat recov-
cred | joined him, ventured upon a few
words of explanation, and slipped into his
hand the letter and the forged order, which
| had kept in my possession. He thrust
them in his pocket without examination,
pressed my hand, and We all went slowly
back to the house.
My wife was trying to console Gerry,
whose grief was excessive. Selma had
kept her eyes lowered all the way up from
the strand, ana now got into the mack,
which was still at the door.
Mr.. Flotsam took me apart and said in a
low voice: "Sir, if you will be so good as
10 use every means to recover the-the
body, and send it TO me, l will pay all ex-
penses, best DIES esteeming it great ia
vor."
l was giving him my promise to comply
with bis wish, when Selina's shrill voice
was heard exclaiming impatiently from the
coach: Come, Benjamin. We shall be too
late for the train"
He wheeled upon her with a face con-
vulsed with sudden fury and disgust, and
raised his walking-s stick menacingly. But
he managed TO control himself, and only
gasped out, in hoarse, choking voice:
Proceed to the station alone, madam;
shall be more circumspect in my choice of
company hereafter"
/ shall never forget the startled look that
suddenly leaped aao that woman's face-a
look betokening the Sudden realization of
what Sc had staked and what she had
lost.
"What -jlo-you-mean, Benjamin"
"This, madam: | shall delay my depart
IRE from C. for the noon express, which
will enable you to reach home three hours
before me. You've the world before you.
Don't let me find you there on my return"
The last words were pronounced with n